A common theme among graduates speaking at Masuk High School’s commencement Wednesday evening was how family, friends, teachers, administrators and coaches impacted who they are today — and aside from the speeches, the 267 members of the Class of 2025 experienced light hearted moments throughout the ceremony.
While walking onto the track, they took in the loud cheers of the crowd filling the stands of Benedict Field, laughed together when two male students showered their peers, seated in a front row of chairs, with confetti fired from cannons hidden under their gowns, and triumphantly threw their caps into the air after receiving their diplomas.
Leading up to their big day, Siobhan Riordan, the class salutatorian, reflected on how much they learned from family members, teachers and each other.
“The lessons that shape us most deeply don’t always come from pictures or textbooks,” she said from the podium. “They come from the people sitting with us, the one’s we’ve argued with, laughed with, failed in front of and grown beside. We carry pieces of the people who shaped us through words, actions and shared experiences.”
But this is a two-way-street, according to Riordan, who said she and her fellow graduates should also be aware of the impact they have on others.
“Every word, every act of kindness or curiosity or encouragement has the potential to become part of someone else’s story,” she said. “That’s a powerful responsibility and it means that learning isn’t something that ends with graduation.”
In his address, Rayhaan Shaik, the class valedictorian, recalled how stepping out of his comfort zone and socializing, while connecting with people in the Masuk and Monroe communities helped him grow into who he is today.
For Shaik, it all started when he joined the Masuk Robotics program his sophomore year, “thanks to healthy pressure” from one of his best friends.
“As expected, I learned a lot about robotics and strengthened my coding skills,” Shaik said. “What I did not expect to strengthen were my social skills. The program pushed me to talk, to collaborate, to trust others and to be trusted in return — and it paid off, not just for what we built, learned and accomplished, but also who I became.”
This gave him the confidence to cofound an organization with one of his friends, enabling Shaik to speak to leaders and local groups, while forming relationships with people outside of the fields he was used to.
He also fondly recalled how a group of friends talked him into coming to the annual Music and Meatballs fundraiser organized by Masuk music students.
“I’ll be honest, I was hesitant,” Shaik said. “Spending a Saturday night at a school music event was not the most appealing to me, but I went anyway to expand my horizons and it was one of the best decisions I made this year.”
“The food was great, the performances were well above my expectations and I also ended up winning a 65-inch Samsung TV in a raffle for just $15,” he said. “Now, I’m not saying that showing up to community events will guarantee you win a TV, but I’m also not, not saying that.”
“On a more serious note, I realize now the real win that night wasn’t the prize, it was the sense of belonging I found in a space I never imagined myself even enjoying,” Shaik continued. “That’s what it means to step into the unknown. You never know what you’ll find or who you’ll meet. But more often than not, you’ll walk away with more than you expected.”
Shaik encouraged his classmates to step out of their own comfort zones, challenge themselves and grow. “Even when you stumble, remember it’s not the result that matters most, but the process that shaped you,” he said.
The act of delivering the 2025 graduate address was a testament to the growth of Lindsey Merriman, who used to avoid public speaking.
“At Masuk, we didn’t just grow up together, we learned how to carry each other through it,” she said. “Even when things were messy or hard, we didn’t let each other fall too far. Why? Because Panthers pick each other up and that doesn’t and shouldn’t end here.”
“It doesn’t matter where we land, the pattern stays the same,” Merriman said. “We’ll keep meeting people who challenge us, support us, make us laugh when we need it, and remind us who we are — and just like we did here, we’ll figure things out.”
Staying true to yourself
Aside from four years at Masuk changing who he is today, Class President Ariq Rahman said the experience allowed him to be himself.
He recalled how tough it was losing his childhood friends when his family moved from Stratford to Monroe. Rahman, who was a third-grader at the time, also had to adjust to a new school.
“It didn’t help that I happened to look different than a majority of my peers,” he said. “I felt alone in what I liked, how I acted, how I looked and ultimately how I fit in the world as a whole. I felt the appropriate solution would be to change myself.”
Rahman said he went through elementary and middle school “being fake nonchalant and self-conscious.”
“More than anything, I was afraid of being perceived as weird,” he said. “I was afraid of being myself, but it was at Masuk where something began to click. Now it wasn’t a sudden epiphany or a miraculous day where everything started to make sense. It was gradual.”
A teacher encouraging Rahman to pursue his passions, new friends who enjoyed his company and a push from one of them to run for class president put him on the right track.
“Adamant that I would win election, it was the people I met, the community that is fostered both inside Masuk and in Monroe as a whole that pulled me out of my shell,” Rahman said. “The people at Masuk created a positive feedback loop showing that the real version of me was one that people liked, one that was capable of success.”
Rahman served as class president for all four of his years at Masuk.
“You guys showed me that a short brown kid from STEM could be president,” he said. “You guys showed me that I was good enough.”
Rahman said accepting who we are, helps us grow.
As a way of thanking the school for all it has done for them, Rahman announced that the Masuk Student Government will put all of its remaining funds toward three class gifts, by making donations to the Spring Fling, the Masuk football field video board, and a Class of 2025 Scholarship fund.
Adapting to change
Board of Education Chairman David Ferris welcomed the Class of 2025 at the beginning of the ceremony and congratulated them on behalf of the board. He also reminded them of how their parents and teachers helped them along the way.
“This is your moment. Enjoy it,” Ferris said. “Love, laugh, stay humble, don’t quit and stay true to your values and morals.”
Principal Steve Swensen said the most important thing the graduates will take with them is their minds, which are like a toolbox filled with critical thinking skills, curiosity, communication, empathy and compassion — all they will need for their chosen paths in life.
“You are thinkers, creators, leaders, problem solvers and Masuk Panthers,” Swensen said, “and wherever you go, you will make an impact. Now go build something extraordinary. Congratulations Class of 2025.”
Before his remarks, Swensen recognized the eight graduates, who will go on to serve our country in branches of the military, asking them to stand up for a round of applause.
“In a time when such commitments carry deep meaning and tremendous sacrifice, we pause to express our profound appreciation and respect for these students and the path they have chosen,” he said.
The following graduates have committed to military service:
- Katherine Bernier, Leticia Ferreira, and Jilson Tello will be joining the U.S. Army.
- Jack Hanna, who has already completed Basic Training, will continue his service as part
of the Army ROTC at the University of Scranton. - Dylan Huber, Matthew Mangiacapra, Sandy Mendoza, and Brody Pierson will be serving in the U.S. Marine Corps.
“The Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education, and Masuk High School extend their
deepest gratitude to these graduates,” Swensen said. “Their choice to serve reflects the very best of our community and the values of leadership, responsibility, and sacrifice that we strive to instill in all of our students.”
“To Katherine, Jack, Dylan, Leticia, Matthew, Sandy, Brody, and Jilson: we thank you for your
willingness to answer the call of service,” he said. “You carry with you the respect, pride, and unwavering support of your school, your community, and your country.”
Superintendent Joseph Kobza talked about all of the changes at Masuk since he was a student there. He said one truth is that change is constant.
“The world will shift rapidly. That’s why adaptability matters,” he said. “More than any single piece of knowledge, your ability to adjust, to learn, to stay curious, that’s what will carry you forward.”
Kobza said the most successful people he’s known could respond when their plans changed, adding they were grounded in their values, but flexible in their approach.
“You already know how to adapt,” he said, “and even as the world continues to change, some things remain constant. Integrity still matters, so does kindness, so does effort, empathy, respect, honesty, hard work — those aren’t trends. They’re values. They don’t go out of style and they’ll never be obsolete.”
“These are the qualities that will set you apart, no matter what path you take,” Kobza said. “The people who build trust, who lift others, who live with compassion, those are the people who will make a lasting impact. Change isn’t something to brace against. It’s something to step into.”
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